UVM and college sports from the Burlington Free Press sports department

UVM opens men’s basketball season at Siena

Brian Voelkel began his college career two years ago at the Times Union Center in Albany, collecting nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in helping the University of Vermont men’s basketball team halt Siena’s 38-game home winning streak.

“I can’t wait to get back there and hopefully pick up where I left off,” Voelkel said.

The same can be said for the Catamounts, who open their 2012-13 season Friday night at Siena with many of the same players who led them to the NCAA tournament last season.

Voelkel is part of UVM’s big junior class that broke onto the scene two years ago and helped the Catamounts knock off Siena, 80-76, in front of 8,047 fans. At the time, Siena owned the second longest home winning streak in the nation.

Sandro Carissimo, UVM’s junior point guard, drained a trio of 3-pointers and finished with 13 points in that game against Siena, which were the defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Association champions.

“We knew Brian was going to be good and he delivered his first game,” UVM coach John Becker said. “Sandro hit some big 3s that game. They had a 38-game (home) winning streak. That was one of the better wins we’ve had as a program.”

UVM also notched a 64-62 win over Siena last year at Patrick Gymnasium after Matt Glass’ tip-in at the buzzer.

For the Catamounts to pick up a third straight win in the series, they’ll need to find a way to slow down Siena center O.K. Anosike, who torched UVM for 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting last year. The 6-foot-8, 241-pound Anosike led the nation in rebounding last season with 12.5 a game. He’s the MAAC preseason player of the year.

“He’s as good a big man as anyone in the country,” Becker said.

It appears unlikely Vermont senior center Ben Crenca, who missed both preseason exhibitions with a back injury, will play much, if at all, against Siena. Becker said before Wednesday’s practice Crenca’s status is “day to day.”

Siena, which finished 14-17 overall and 8-10 in the MAAC last season primarily using a six-man rotation, will be without sophomore guard Rakeem Brookins and sophomore forward Trenity Burdine, who are suspended for the first three games of the season for violating athletic department policy.

Eleven of the 14 players on Siena’s roster this season are either freshman or sophomores, making the Saints the fourth least experienced team in the nation.